Oras was back again in Hargeon. After the events in the Beanstalk village he decided to continue traveling. Of course most would be confused as to why he would be going back to Hargeon town rather than just taking a new route around and be more productive. There were three reasons why he was taking this route again. The first reason was because seeing, hearing or trying something the first time wasn't enough to solidify the memory. He would need to see, hear and try it multiple times in order to memorize the areas. Traveling down the route he took originally would aid in this. The second reason was that there was a job in Hargeon town that was now available, so Oras decided that he may as well assist with this. Looking at the job description however, he felt it ridiculous that the individual who was requesting assistance, actually needed assistance. The third reason was the two thousand jewel reward for aiding him.

The job was extremely simple. Help load cargo onto the ship. Travel to River Village. Unload the cargo. The only reason the sailor could not get the job done himself was because he needed two things. A helping hand, and a wizard to act as a witness that he was not smuggling anything illegal of any sorts. He was framed by another whom has yet to be caught. The trial was long and it took much convincing to prove that the sailor had not intended to carry anything illegal on his craft, and while he was finally proven innocent, he was unable to use a large vessel, guards were always suspicious of him, and no one would sail with him other than a few old friends. Therefore he needed a wizard to help him out. Oras doubted that it would take a wizard, but rather anyone who had a clean slate and history would be able to accept this offer. Yet he insisted on having a wizard and thus the job was available.

Oras made his way through the town towards the pier. Nobody took notice of him, however one or two guards did mutter a bit once they saw him. He was here a week or two ago after all. During his stay here, he had managed to chase and take down the bandits before they could reach their ships. Defeating them was rather easy actually, yet the guards were impressed that he was able to take them down, let alone that he was clever enough to simply wait where their destination was and block it from them. In the end he was rewarded with some jewel given to him by the captain of the guard before he was left alone to do as he wished.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

Soon enough Oras saw the pier coming into view, as well as the many ships docked in. Oras began to hone in on what he believed to be the ship he would be assigned to. From the troubles he's been in it wouldn't be a mighty ship. Nor would it be tiny either as he still made a living. He passed by ships with multiple sailors and stopped once he reached a ship that was somewhere in the middle with about four sailors maximum, including the captain whom he was going to work for today. It was a sad bunch really. Two of the men looked like sticks, and one of the individuals was a cabin boy. The sailor who posted the notice was the only one who seemed to have any strength. Oras believed that the need to post for a wizard was more dire than he originally thought. With a skeleton crew like this, he wouldn't be able to sail anywhere for long. How they had managed to survive this entire time was an utter mystery to Oras. Perhaps it was that the boat was stronger than it appeared, as well as that they never held anything worth stealing. Whatever the case, he would get the opinion of the sailor soon enough. As he approached the ship a guard made his way over to him.

"You there. You're the wizard who accepted this man's request?" Oras nodded and nothing more. Nothing else was needed, it was a yes or no question. "You know his history right? He was nearly tried for smuggling illegal goods across to other towns and cities. Most people still suspect him. See those other men he has? They look like good for nothing thieves to me. You'd best watch out for them. And the sailor. My gut tells me he's the leader of a group of thieves or something." Oras said nothing and simply stared the man down through his visor, not doing anything till the guard nodded and returned to his post. With that boring bit over with, he continued towards the board that linked the land to the ship. The sailor noticed him approaching and gave a quick order to his hired men before walking over to Oras and shaking his hand.

"Hello there sir. You must be the wizard who accepted the task. I truly appreciate this. My name is Gavin. Is there anything you wish to be called?""You may call me Veres,"Oras replied. The man nodded."Right then Verus. Let's get the tedious bit out of the way shall we? Let me show you the goods before you haul them up here with me."Oras followed the man, interested by the sailor to some degree. For one he was grateful that the man understood what Oras deemed time worthy and what wasn't, and jumped straight to business. The two went through the crates, opening every single one of them for Oras to examine. The man was carrying completely legal goods. Crates upon crates of office supplies and nothing more. The man asked Oras if there was anywhere else he'd like to check but Oras declined the offer."What you have shown me is sufficient enough thank you."With that Oras began to aid the man in loading the ship.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

Some crates were light enough for Oras to carry on his own, whereas some required the captain and Oras to work together. The two men on the ship laughed as they made jokes and talked rather loudly as the two worked. The cabin boy stayed on the deck of the ship and watched the two work, moving the many crates from the docks onto the deck of the ship. Once on the deck they brought them down below so that they wouldn't be exposed to the elements or be at the risk of falling over or anything. Once all of the crates were below, Oras and Gavin grabbed thick ropes and began to secure the crates so that they wouldn't topple over and slide everywhere. Once this task was done the captain placed his hands on his hips and grinned at Oras."Thank you very much for the help. The rest of the ride you can sit back and relax."Oras shook his head."I refuse to do nothing. Tell me what to do next."The captain smiled, seeming to be very willing and very happy that Oras was willing to help.

Oras helped the captain prep the ship for sailing and guards, citizens and the like watched as a cloaked and masked wizard helped the man with his ship. Oras could overhear them and knew that the presence of a cloaked and masked wizard aiding a man who was already rumored to be a smuggler who got lucky and escaped prison wasn't going to make the man's life any easier. In fact, one individual mentioned something about the captain being linked with a dark guild now. These rumors would certainly destroy what reputation he had left to call his own. Or rather any uplifting and good reputation. Of course there was still a chance for him to redeem himself. And that chance, unknown to Oras, was going to happen on this voyage.

It took a while for Oras to learn the details of prepping the ship, memorizing the names of certain areas, parts and such. However Oras was a quick learner and adapted quickly to the new world he was being shown. The captain soon lifted the board and when Oras untied the rope that kept them to the docs, the ship began to drift away from the town's port. The moment they did, the two skeleton crew members began to sing 'weigh hey and up she rises' with a few extended verses. Soon enough it was quiet on the ship. The two men were playing poker and teaching the cabin boy how to play as well. Oras sat on the railing near the bow of the ship, looking out across the sea.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

As Oras sat there he heard the captain's footsteps as the man approached Oras. When he reached him Oras didn't turn to look at him. The captain leaned against the railing on the other side of the bow, staring out at the sea as well."It's a beautiful view ain't it?"He said. Oras simply nodded."What do you like about it in particular Verus?"the captain asked. Oras thought about it for a moment. Pretty was a stupid way to describe it. Calm was cliché and very vague. No, Oras had a different description for it."The sea is like humans. It appears calm on the surface, but when stirred up it becomes a hurricane and maelstrom. Whirlpools that suck unsuspecting victims into it's dark depths. It's beautiful on the surface where it's closest to the sun, yet dark and unyielding, unmerciful in the deeps. It's also like the nature of the universe in that it is ever moving, ever changing. Nothing is ever the same. Nothing is solidified."

The captain laughed at hearing this and Oras now turned to him, slightly puzzled. The man chuckled before shrugging."Ah well that's certainly the most interesting description I've ever heard of the ocean. All I was going to say was how I love the way it sparkles. How the light of the sun falls onto the water, and how the water sends the light back up into the sky, and into our visual contact, making itself look far more beautiful than it actually is. It just goes to show you that if we want to find beauty in this world, we'll find beauty. No matter where or what it is. Perspective my friend. That's where it is."Oras was silent for a moment as he pondered this. He certainly wasn't wrong. Beauty was another illusion, and there was no actual way to tell what beauty was. Some went by definition description as a combination of qualities that is pleasing to the sight. However as years go by, humanity is pleasured by different things that keep changing.

"I suppose so,"he replied."Your men don't have the same enthusiasm with the ocean as you do however."The captain shrugged."They were hired for money. Honestly they're mainly here because when the boat doesn't have a good wind, they help keep it going. Otherwise those slobs are useless. I needed someone strong to get this cargo over to the other side. After this however I may have to quit entirely. Mainly due to the fact that nobody wants nothing to do with me anymore. Can't change that however."Oras turned to look at the two men, who were teaching the cabin boy now how to bet. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at them. Perhaps... Perhaps not he thought to himself. There was something about those individuals that seemed off about him. It wasn't their behavior and it wasn't their physical bodies and attributes. It was the way they spoke. The way they looked at the cabin boy. Something wasn't right and Oras would get to the bottom of it.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

The sun was beginning to set now, and Oras had already done much to assist the captain on the ship. Not only was he assisting the man however, but the captain was also teaching him everything about the ship and about traveling on the sea. How to read a compass, how to read the stars once they showed. How to read a map and use the prior three to determine where you were. How to correctly steer the ship. How to shift the position of the sails, etc. He left no detail out and this was the sort of thing that Oras appreciated. He would pay close attention to everything that was shown to him and practice doing it a few times so that it would be locked down in his memory. Knowing how to sail, navigate, and otherwise work on a ship could be extremely valuable knowledge in the future. Especially if Oras needed to leave Fiore, though he doubted that would actually occur. At any rate he had planned to learn different techniques and methods to prepare himself and here he was learning one of the more common practices. While he did all of this of course, the two skeleton crew members were doing tasks such as cleaning the ship. Oras suggested that the cabin boy learn as well and the captain agreed, so they brought the boy with them from thereon.

During the journey whenever the sun set and the others fell asleep, Oras felt the need to confirm his suspicions and went through the ship, thoroughly examining every single nook and cranny. Every hiding place. He had been searching for a while when he suddenly received the strong feeling that he was being watched. He turned around quickly, spotting the cabin boy who had woken up in the middle of the night and was wandering the boat. They stared at each other for a moment before the young boy spoke."Why are you looking through the supplies sir? Do you not trust the captain like everyone else?"Oras shook his head and turned to the boy."I trust him, he is not lying. However I believe something else is going on. It is my guess that someone planted an item on this vessel to smuggle it into river valley without the captain knowing."The boy frowned in confusion."But, you and the captain already searched everything. In order to do something like that, whoever wanted to, would need to be on this shi-"The boy's eyes widened and Oras nodded."You caught it too. Those two men who do nothing but gamble? I have reason to believe they're actually thieves. You must not breathe a word of this, nor react in fear around them. Act as you always have. I need to catch them off guard tomorrow. It won't do if they take you hostage, it will only complicate things."

The boy of course, understood and nodded while taking a deep breath to calm himself down. Oras nodded and told the boy to continue getting rest as he continued to look for his proof. As Oras looked he heard the captain up above asking the boy where Oras had went. The boy lied by saying that Oas had asked him if there was anything he knew that the captain had yet to show him, and so the boy taught him how to clean below and how Oras wished to be alone for a bit. The captain trusted the boy so he bought it and Oras continued to look through the crates. As he did he felt one of the crates was different. He flipped the crate over, softly and carefully and felt around the edge of it. He soon found a way to open the bottom of the crate and when he did he spotted what he was looking for. Once he had he sealed the crate, planning to open it again tomorrow when everyone was wide awake.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

The following day Oras acted like nothing had changed. As everyone woke up and got to work he still did not reveal this matter to the captain, nor did he confront the thieves. The cabin boy was often wondering why he was waiting when he could simply throw the thieves overboard. While the thieves had managed to convince the captain to join them in a game with them, the boy took Oras downstairs and asked him why he wasn't doing anything."To show that your captain is innocent, we need to reveal this at the village,"he said. The boy, now understanding, left the matter alone and to Oras. Not much longer after that, Oras was invited to the game of poker and took a seat, taking his cards. One of the thieves demanded that he take off his mask before they play but the captain said it was disrespectful. The thieves believed it unfair that they couldn't read his reactions but he could read theirs. At last it was decided that they all would wear masks during the game.

Oras couldn't help but smile to himself as they put their masks on. They had been playing nonstop and Oras had been observing them. He learned the different cues and hints as to what was going on in their mind. He didn't need to see their faces, just their body's physical reaction. Oras however, knew how to be still and calm, even with a masterful hand, or a pathetic hand. The only individual he found hard to read was the captain, who seemed to have adapted to be calm all the time as well. And thus he was the only challenge. The captain and Oras had won multiple times against the thieves at this point, and they were close to the point of calling cheats. The captain noticed this and decided to end the game, shaking hands with the thieves who grudgingly accepted defeat, and Oras and Gavin decided to call it a draw between them.

After the game he looked out into the distance and saw the river village coming into view. This of course brought everyone back to their stations. Oras was taught once again by Gavin how to work the ship, but this time Oras could do most of it without Gavin's supervision. The captain smiled as he saw Oras work fluently with the ship. If there were more of Oras, he could have sailed this ship as well. Which of course if Oras wasn't careful about revealing his type of magic to others, he'd have summoned up three illusion copies of himself that could aid him easily. Regardless however, he continued to work as they pulled into the docks. Everyone was unloading the crates this time, and Oras kept his eyes on the thieves. When the crate with the additional hidden compartment was being pulled out the thieves stated that they could handle this one. Oras grinned under his mask. "Don't break your lazy streak,"he said simply and continued with the crate.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."

The two thieves turned to each other for a moment upon hearing Oras say this."We want to help,"one of them said. "It's clear we can't get a living with gambling, so we may as well start earning some jewel for once. Shouldn't you let us do that?""Of course,"Oras replied."So start by go looking for your own job."He began moving forward with the crate when one of them grabbed his arm, catching the attention of the captain."Let me help,"he said quietly. The captain who was not used to this, went of silently to find a guard. Oras didn't move."Alright, you can help. Can you grab the next crate on the ship? More hands makes for less work."The man's eyes narrowed and Oras could feel them about to harm him. In fact he was guessing what they were about to do: One of them was positioned behind Oras and was going to kick behind Oras' knee and say something about him being injured and how he shouldn't be working. Before the man could however the guard arrived.

"What the hell is this about?"he demanded. Oras turned to the guard while the other two attempted to look kind."We were just trying to help,"they said. Before the other could add, Oras spoke up."They insist on taking this particular crate from me rather than taking another one from the ship."The captain nodded in agreement. Another guard walked over and said to the first one,"It's true sir. I was about to walk over and ask them to stop harassing him."The guard looked at the crate, then the thieves."Put the crate down and let's have a look shall we?"So they put down the crate and the guard inspected it, spotting nothing wrong with it. Oras and the thieves knew about the hidden compartment but there was one other person who knew about it, and Oras was waiting for him to speak up in three... Two... One..."Um, officer?"the cabin boy said. The guard looked at him."What do you want boy?""Um. There's a secret compartment on the other end of the crate sir. I saw those men open it."The two thieves paled a little and the guard and Oras flipped the crate while the captain glared at the men. The cabin boy was the perfect witness, as children were naturally curious. Oras moved his hand and fingers along the edge as he did the first time, seeming to search for the way to open it. When he did, the guard looked inside along with the captain.

Explosive lacrima. The guard didn't even hesitate."Arrest those two men immediately!"He said, but the two had pulled out weapons and were about to fight their way out. Before they could however, Oras kneed one in the lungs, knocking the wind out of him, and struck the other in the throat in a way that rendered him unconscious. He turned to the officer."Please spread the word to Hargeon town that this man is innocent of any criminal activity, and that it was these men's organization that attempted to smuggle illegal goods those years ago."The captain's eyes widened at hearing this and the guard looked curiously at Oras that he would have helped his employer more than asked for. Oras turned to the captain, received his jewel, thanked him for teaching him the fundamentals for sailing, and left without another word, his work done.

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"You think you know what is truth? A world of facts? Right and wrong? Universal Laws? Soon I will show you. Soon you will see. You couldn't be more wrong, Guest."